Opal G. Ruggles

Opal G. Ruggles, 93 of Aledo, died Friday, April 2, 2010 at the Mercer County Nursing Home. Funeral Services are Monday at 11:00 AM at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo, with visitation one hour prior to services. Burial will be in Aledo Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Opal Ruggles memorial fund. Opal Genevieve Neal was born on November 26, 1916 in Downing, Missouri to Ora & Sarah (Carroll) Neal. She married Harold Burris Ruggles on July 16, 1937 in Kahoka, Missouri. He preceded her in death on May 9, 1988. Opal and Harold farmed together and raised their family in the Sunbeam area. After retiring from farming, she owned and operated the National Dry Cleaners in Dixon, IL. She enjoyed grooming race horses with her husband at various Illinois race tracks for many years prior to his death. She also enjoyed playing Bingo, gardening, sewing and quilting in her spare time. Those left to cherish Opal’s memory include her 11 children & their spouses: Barbra & Allan Kraklow of Toulon; Carroll Powell of Bettendorf; Bonnie Doss of Illinois City; Wanda White & Pat Hynes of Milan; Martha & Dennis Bedford, Betty & David Criswell and Burris Ruggles all of Aledo; Bill & Janice Ruggles of Springfield, Ohio; Bob & Rita Ruggles of Millersburg; Neal & Vicky Ruggles of Taylor Ridge and Keith & Mary Ruggles of Dixon; 29 grandchildren; 61 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren and a sister, Mardell Funk of Kirksville, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; 4 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren and brothers, Carroll and Robert Neal.